In celebration of all the sweet memories created over the past half-century, we couldn’t resist compiling 50 of our favorites! They actually begin back at the original Hershey Chocolate Factory, because that's where we like to think our story started. We hope you’ll enjoy learning exactly how HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD came to be, some of our major milestones, and best of all – heartwarming moments with guests.
Check back throughout the year as we add to our scrapbook, and don’t forget – share your own memories using our new digital guestbook!
1. The Original Hershey Chocolate Factory Tour is Born
Almost as soon as The Hershey Chocolate Factory began operating in 1905, visitors wanted to see for themselves how HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate was made. And so formal tours began in 1910, with a route including bar moulding and wrapping, HERSHEY'S KISSES chocolates depositing, box wrapping and label printing. A local Hershey Visitors Bureau opened in 1915 to support a rapidly growing tourist market and within its first three months, it distributed 10,000 factory tour admission cards.
2. Tour Expands with Chocolate Drink Counter
In 1927, a corner of the men's lunchroom was converted into a lobby with a special counter to serve chocolate drinks. James T. Smith, one of the first tour guides, remembered: "The location of the Visitors Lobby was such that company executives had to go through it to get to their offices, and it was a common sight to see Mr. Hershey himself chatting with the visitors. You could tell that folks who went through the factory were really impressed."
3. “The Story of Cocoa and Chocolate” is Introduced
The popularity of the factory tours grew quickly - for both visitors and locals alike - to the point that it was no longer feasible to offer chocolate drinks and five-packs of small HERSHEY'S Bars. Instead, visitors now received gift packets including a booklet called “The Story of Cocoa and Chocolate.” The booklet would continue to be printed even into the early 1980s at HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD.
4. Factory Tour Begins its Transition
By 1970, almost one million people annually were touring the factory - a factory that had never been designed to handle so many visitors. It was causing traffic jams downtown, overwhelming the building capacity and creating risks for product safety. A task force was created to address the challenge and considered three solutions: 1) terminate the tour program; 2) renovate to accommodate glass-enclosed walkways; or 3) develop a new, separate facility. After choosing option 3, plans for Hershey Foods Corporation's new corporate Visitors Center commenced!
5. We Open Our Doors!
The last Hershey Chocolate Factory tour was held on June 29, 1973, and its new home, HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD, opened the very next day. It was located near Hersheypark's newly-constructed "tram circle," where there would be opportunity for expansion, as well as synergy between the two companies. The primary attraction, of course, was a simulated tour that explained the process of chocolate-making and is still a favorite of our guests today.
6. Our Original Story: All About History
HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD was an instant success, drawing 1 million visitors less than 5 months after opening. The tour ride upramp displayed murals about the history of chocolate, and the exit featured a large exhibit exploring the life of Milton Hershey and his model town. Today's jungle was also a part of the original building, known then as the "arboretum." However, the retail area was much smaller, originally three grass "huts" selling sweets and souvenirs. These would be expanded just a few years later to meet the demand for gifts and chocolate - an aspect of visiting that the company had largely underestimated.
7. Our World-Famous Cookies are Introduced!
One of the shops added during the 1978-1979 expansion - a cookie shop! - may have seemed small then, but it means a lot to us now! Clearly, they were a hit from the start, as just two years later, the shop would grow from one to five ovens. The treats are still a favorite at our Bakery today.
8. Hershey's Dessert Cafe Opens
To meet growing demand, the original cafe was enlarged, and its menu was expanded to include more desserts, all of which came from Hershey's Test Kitchens recipes. Renamed "Hershey's Dessert Cafe," we like to think this was just the beginning of all the sweets and eats we offer today.
9. REESE'S PIECES Join Tour Ride
The tour ride saw its first modifications in 1983, including the re-painting of the Hershey-ets section to depict REESE'S PIECES candies. Not only had Hershey-ets been discontinued at the plant, but also the new 1978-born peanut butter treat had been made quickly popular by the launch of the movie "E.T." (Check out the fun story of how this partnership came to be!)
10. Classic Favorites Come to Life
A major renovation in 1988 resulted in many changes that we still hold dear today. The retail areas were updated and now offered exclusively Hershey branded items (Hello World's Largest HERSHEY'S Store!) A "Chocolate Fantasies" food area introduced new specialties, including our world-famous milkshakes. And a complete tour ride re-design featured the beloved original "Great American Chocolate Bar" song, which we've re-created for our 50th anniversary.
11. The Trolley Arrives
In 1990, Hershey Trolley Works moved its base from tram circle at HERSHEYPARK to HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD, where it remains today to offer a variety of shows year-round. A number of employees began their careers in the interactive show, and many a local have fond memories watching the characters navigate wardrobe changes while in motion driving the streets of Hershey!
12. The Evolution of Dining Continues
HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD opened its first and only sit-down restaurant, the Chocolate Town Cafe, in 1996. It would remain in operation until 2003, when the second floor space was re-branded KIT KAT® Gimme a Break Cafe.
13. HERSHEY'S KISSMOBILE Car is Introduced
In celebration of HERSHEY'S KISSES 90th anniversary in 1997, Hershey Foods Corporation created the sweet vehicle we all know and love: the KISSMOBILE. At 25+ feet long and 11+ feet tall, it would tour more than 35,000 miles throughout the country that year, giving away "Hugs and Kisses" in more than 25 major cities. Fans could have their photos taken for a modest donation, and funds were donated to Hershey's long-standing charity partner, the Children's Miracle Network. While it no longer tours, the KISSMOBILE remains a favorite photo opp today!
14. Making Strides for Our 25th Anniversary
In preparation for our first major anniversary in 1998, significant changes were made to both the interior and exterior of the building. Characters were added above a new entrance, and the tour ride saw a major upgrade. In the queue, guests would now pass through a tropical jungle, cacao plantation, and port-side loading dock. Upon entering the ride, they would experience notable Hershey landmarks, updated audio and video monitors showing actual factory operations.
15. Original Plant Tour Guides Re-unite!
In the true spirit of celebrating our story, we welcomed back the original HERSHEY'S Chocolate ambassadors for our 25th anniversary. It was a true treat to have so many factory tour guides at this reunion, including our very own Sally Herr, who has been working on our team ever since!
16. Jungle Receives Accolades
The mission of our very own arboretum - and its caretakers - was recognized in 1998 by Penn State University, when Dr. Mark Guiltinan partnered with the Hershey Technical Center on Theobroma Cacao tree research. To commemorate the collaboration, several of these trees were planted in our jungle, and HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD sold young cacao trees for guests to take home and grow themselves! To this day, our trees are still a pride and joy, tended to with state-of-the-art horticulture and regularly producing cacao fruit.
17. First Attraction Makes its Debut
In response to visitor expectations, HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD began to expand its experiences in 2002. The debut attraction was HERSHEY'S Really Big 3-D Show, a three-dimensional musical film with special effects in a 250-seat theatre. As part of the renovation, the lobby was expanded, and a new exterior facade inspired by the original chocolate factory featured a set of HERSHEY'S smokestacks and a 30-foot clock tower.
18. Breakfast with Santa Tradition Begins
Our very first Christmas experience - Breakfast with Santa - was introduced in 2004, and guests have loved it so much over the years that we still continue the tradition today. The original festivities were hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Claus helpers who are employees now during our 50th anniversary!
19. Second Interactive Attraction Opens
Another new experience, HERSHEY'S Factory Works, opened in 2004. On this interactive faux assembly line, guests could create an authentic photo ID and hat before packaging HERSHEY'S KISSES Chocolates with the Kiss Works machine. This renovation also included HERSHEY'S Bake Shoppe, a presentation bakery where “Hersheyizers” entertained visitors as they decorated fresh-made cupcakes with Hershey products.
20-22. First Three Cows Join the Tour Ride
Under the new name "HERSHEY'S Great American Chocolate Tour," our ride underwent another redesign in 2006, emphasizing the importance of farm fresh milk in the creation of HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate. So naturally, the adorable trio affectionately known as Gabby, Harmony and Olympia were introduced to represent our signature local ingredient. And more cows would come 10 years later. (They never get old, right?! That's why they deserved three spots in our list of favorites. 😉)
More sweet memories to come! Check back throughout the year as we add to our scrapbook, building from this point in history to present day. Cheers to 50 years!
Join us on more Adventures in Chocolate!
We're bursting with excitement for our new attraction, 50th events and sweets, plus a new twist on your favorite old song!
We know you've got some favorites! Can't wait to hear your best moments from the past 50 years.
Join us on more Adventures in Chocolate!
We're bursting with excitement for our new attraction, 50th events and sweets, plus a new twist on your favorite old song!
We know you've got some favorites! Can't wait to hear your best moments from the past 50 years.